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An Age of hope: a National Effort for Corrections, Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration of Offenders. Presentation: Portfolio Committee: Department of Correctional Services: Eastern Cape November 2006. THANK YOU. An Age of Hope: A National Effort for Corrections, Rehabilitation and
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An Age of hope: a National Effort for Corrections, Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration of Offenders Presentation: Portfolio Committee: Department of Correctional Services: Eastern CapeNovember 2006 THANK YOU An Age of Hope: A National Effort for Corrections, Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration of Offenders
INTRODUCTION: • This document aims to provide an outline of progress made by DCS EC Region in addressing challenges raised by the Portfolio Committee. • It will focus on the interventions made and plans in place with regards to: • Staff Shortages/ Filling of Vacancies • Overcrowding • Gangsterism • Middledrift Correctional Centre • & the regional communication Strategy • The presentation will focus on DCS planning around the above over the next 03, 06 & 12 months period. • The focus areas outlined above are in line with the requirements of the Portfolio Committee on DCS as explained in the letter addressed to the Honourable Minister.
OVERVIEW OF REGION: Since the last report , in August 2006, some changes aimed at enhancing the ability of the Region to deliver on its mandate were effected. These include: • Rezoning: up until Aug 2006, the Eastern Cape Region consisted of eight (8) Management Area – which now changed to six (6) Management Areas: Lusikisiki incorporated into Mthatha and Cradock into Sada and Kirkwood. • Objectives behind the decision to rezone the Region included: • The need to centralize offenders with special need into facilities that would be adequately resourced to meet their developmental needs. • Enhance management area capacity to meet the needs of offenders in their care. • Facilitate for categorization of offenders according to strengths and capacity of MA’s thereby contributing to the management of overcrowding. • Provision of specialized facilities for offenders with special needs.
OVERVIEW OF REGION: Continued • Reclassification of Middledrift Correctional Centre from a Maximum to a Medium Centre was championed with an objective of: • Addressing security challenges posed by the infrastructure of the center • To reduce the challenges of overcrowding • to ensure enough offender labor is available for pursuing the planned farming activities for the center Since the reclassification of Middledrift CC, East London MediumA – has been reclassified as Maximum Security Centre • Progress on centralization of inmates is • Juveniles to Cradock • Young Offenders to Mdantsane • Females to East London Centre of Excellence, Port Elizabeth and Queenstown • The above was done in order to foster optimal utilization of accommodation space and human resources
MIDDLEDRIFT • The RC appointed a task team for reengineering of the Middledrift Cc • The ff terms of reference were given to the task team: • Reports & incident since 2001-2005 • Interventions initiated from 2001-05 • HR needs of the center & Appropriate reclassification of the center Progress made thus far by the committee: • Since Aug 2006, 14 disciplinary cases for Middledrift have been finalized • Only two appeals were lodged • A total of 03 grievances have been finalized by the arbitrator, 02 in favor of DCS. • A labor relations forum has been launched for the center • There was an addition of 04 internal grievances for the center, 02 of which have been finalized. Staff shortages in Middledrift • 09 supervisory & 05 Junior management posts have been advertised during the months of September/ October 2006 • The approved staff establishment for correctional officials is 165 and Middledrift currently has 161 members employed. • To address staff shortages in the Middledrift Center, 09 supervisory & 05 Junior management posts have been advertised during the months of September/ October 2006 • The approved staff establishment for correctional officials is 165 and Middledrift currently has 161 members employed.
OVERCROWDING IN MIDDLEDRIFT • So far 730 maximum offenders have been transferred out Of Middledrift since Aug 2006. • Reclassification of the Centre from Maximum to a Medium & the consequent reclassification of East London Medium C to a Maximum Facility (Sept 2006). • Transfer of 80 Medium classified inmates with long sentences to other Medium Centres e.g. Middleburg EC • Migration of maximum inmates Middledrift to East London • Currently 680 max offenders are remaining in Middledrift from about 1700 so overcrowding has been decreased by more than 60 % in as far as maximums are concerned • Strengthening of CMC to update Profile Reports • Processing of transfers of inmates originating from other Regions • Transfer of high profiled cases to more secure centers e.g. Kokstad